Alumni Spotlight: Hannah
"At secondary school, mentoring was really important to me. It helped to talk about my academic aspirations and worries with a professional, but someone unconnected to school. It was also comforting to hear that my worries weren’t unique!"
From Future Leader to Cambridge Scholar: Hannah’s Journey
When the Future Leaders Programme launched in 2020, it built on the legacy of Villiers Park’s longstanding support for young people through the Scholars and Inspiring Excellence Programmes, with one key shift: empowering young people to explore who they could be, not just what they could achieve.
Hannah was one of the first young people to make that journey, from our early Scholars cohort to becoming a Future Leader. Today, she is studying for a Degree in Mathematics at the University of Cambridge.
Hannah reflected on how the Future Leaders Programme helped to her grow in confidence and independence, allowing her to define her goals and plan how to reach them.
“There’s a lot more trust being put in us to do things independently, and I’ve definitely developed confidence from that. Having someone to talk to, someone outside of school, was so important, it was comforting to realise that my worries weren’t unique.”
Hannah also shared how her first visit to Cambridge through Villiers Park made the dream of studying there feel possible:
“My residential at Villiers in Year 10 made Cambridge feel tangible. I remember sitting in the canteen at Trinity College, surrounded by pictures of incredible mathematicians, and realising that I could belong there too.”
Today, that vision has become a reality. Hannah is now a Cambridge student, continuing to explore the power of mathematics — and of self-belief.
“Without this programme, I’d be a lot less aspirational. The biggest thing I learned is that I don’t have to change who I am, that I’m good enough as I am.”
Hannah’s story shows what can happen when potential meets opportunity. Through Villiers Park, Hannah didn’t just prepare for university, she developed the self-belief she needed to pursue and secure her goals.
